Five mature trees were removed from the front of the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School last week. District officials say they will be replaced.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Residents concerned about why five mature trees were removed from the front of the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School can rest assured they will be replaced.
According to the city’s Zoning Officer, Roger McLarnon, the trees were a safety hazard and after inspecting them, he agreed to allow them to be removed. He said he received several phone calls at the Zoning Office asking why the trees were being removed.
“Two were pretty sick and hollowed out,” he said, and the district’s insurance carrier asked that the remaining trees be removed because they posed a threat to the safety of children and pedestrians.
“The roots were everywhere causing tripping hazards,” he said.
The new trees will be replaced with trees better suited to the site and further away from the sidewalk to reduce the likelihood of future trip hazards, he said.
“We have plans to put in a whole set of new plants and trees later this month, or at least in fall,” Superintendent Audrey Becker confirmed at the Sept. 1 Board of Education meeting.
The city passed an ordinance last year that offers some protections for the city’s existing tree canopy. McLarnon expressed regret that the city recently lost more than 100 street trees due to storms and redevelopment of residential properties.
The ordinance allows the zoning officer to review, approve and issue a Tree Affidavit before trees can be removed from the right of way.
Administrator Richard Deaney issued a press release in April, just before Arbor Day, stating the city’s current building boom is threatening the city’s existing tree canopy. Before Margate was developed into a residential community, it was a pine forest. Today, large numbers of trees are in danger of being removed to accommodate new construction, he said.
“Unfortunately, this practice has several negative consequences, including the lack of shade during the hot summer months, as well as a lack of wildlife diversity,” Deaney said in the release.
File/Tree-lined streets provide walkable neighborhoods and foster a sense of calm.
The City Code requires the zoning officer to consider the tree’s location, grade and size before issuing an affidavit stating it can be removed, and the site reviewed to determine how many and where trees should be replaced.
“The City of Margate has and will always be proactive when it comes to the sustainability and preservation of its natural resources. This Tree Affidavit is another way to help ensure the beauty of Margate’s landscape for all present residents, future residents and visitors to enjoy,” Deaney said.
The Sustainable Margate green team advocates for tree protection as a way to deal with climate change.
Shade trees cool down cities and make being outdoors tolerable during the hot summer, according to green team Chairman Steve Jasiecki. They also provide a shield from wind and snow during the winter and protect properties from ultraviolet radiation that degrades building materials.
Additionally, trees that offer shade for buildings reduce the cost of energy, absorb stormwater, and foster well-being by providing a pleasant environment for humans.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees yield five times their cost in benefits, cut energy consumption by as much as 25%, and boost property values 7-25%. They lessen city noise, clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and reduce stormwater runoff by as much as 65%.
The public health benefits include increasing students’ ability to concentrate, lower blood pressure and reduce crime by reducing depression, anger, anxiety, and mental fatigue.
Jasiecki said the loss of older mature trees is a great loss to the community because even though the trees will be replaced, it takes about 30 years for a tree reach a size where it becomes a substantial benefit.
“Unfortunately, there was a great loss of bird nesting area and food source when these trees were cut down. It will take a long time to bring this habitat back,” he said.
The root structure of larger trees better absorb stormwater and mitigate street flooding, he said.
File/Temperature readings show the benefits of shade trees.
He said the green team is ready to work with the district on species and size selection of the replacement trees.
“We hope they will be replaced with larger trees, not the small trees builders plant to satisfy building requirements. It’s especially important to plant trees that will support the local bird population and to avoid the non-native species that do not provide any substantial benefit to the environment,” he said.
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